Solar Orbiter Data Vital Amid Peak Solar Activity and G4 Storm

The Solar Orbiter mission, a joint endeavor between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, is providing crucial observational data as the Sun nears the peak of its current activity cycle, following intense events in early January 2026. The primary objective of the spacecraft is to decipher how the Sun generates and governs the heliosphere, the magnetic bubble enveloping our solar system. Solar Orbiter’s capacity for close-range and high-latitude observations has proven essential for solar physics understanding.

This mission's data became particularly vital following a significant solar event. An X-class solar flare, specifically recorded as an X1.9 class flare on January 18, 2026, at 18:09 UTC, was followed by a powerful Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) that reached Earth approximately 25 hours later. This impact triggered a severe geomagnetic storm, classified as S4 on the GOES scale and G4 on the general warning scale, with the particle shower peaking in intensity on January 19, 2026. The event was noted as the most intense solar radiation storm in over 20 years, surpassing levels seen since October 2003.

In Jakarta, the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) confirmed on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, that the geomagnetic storm, which peaked globally on January 19–20, resulted in limited impact across Indonesia due to the nation's low-latitude geographical position. Syirojudin, Head of BMKG's Potential Geophysics Working Group, noted that local magnetic observatories, including the one in Tondano, North Sulawesi, recorded a local K index between K=8 and K=9, indicative of large to extreme geomagnetic storms.

Such space weather phenomena carry the potential to disrupt critical infrastructure, including satellite electronics, power grids, aviation operations, and astronaut safety, particularly concerning ongoing programs like Artemis. Solar Orbiter, launched in February 2020, utilizes a high-elliptical orbit that allows it to observe the Sun closer than Mercury's perihelion, enabling high-resolution imaging of the corona and observation of regions obscured from Earth, such as the Sun's far side.

To further scientific inquiry, Solar Orbiter is scheduled to commence a new series of Remote-Sensing Windows beginning in February 2026, targeting a maximum inclination of 17° for the year. Furthermore, a joint scientific workshop is planned for March 16 to 19, 2026, in Berlin to discuss advancements in understanding the magnetic field's influence on the heliosphere. This international effort, which includes complementary missions like NASA's Parker Solar Probe, underscores the necessity of global cooperation in monitoring the dynamic space environment.